AIDS

AIDS (Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is caused by a virus called HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). It lowers the immune system causing the affected people to be more vulnerable to diseases and infections. This case becomes worst as the disease progresses. This syndrome is found in the fluids of the people who are infected and it is passed from a person to another through sexual contact or blood to blood contact. At the end of 2011 approximately 71 300 people were affected by HIV in Canada comoared to 57 000 in 2005. Around 3,175 new HIV infections occured in 2011 in Canada and 25 % of them were not aware of the syndrome. There are 3 stages of the infection. The first one is the primary infection which causes fever, headache, muscle ashes, rash, chills, sore throat, joint pain, night sweats and diarrhea. The second stage is the clinical latent infection and it does not have specific symptoms, it can last 8 to 10 years from some certain people.The third and last stage is the early symptomatic HIV infection, this is the final stage of the infection and can cause fever, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, diarrhea, cough, wheight loss and shorten breath.